Construction Site Supervision
COTM 3231
1
Table of content
1. General
2. The importance of supervision
3. The project environment
4. The skills and role of inspector
5. Defects in construction
Chapter One: Introduction
Dictionary definition of inspection / supervision
A critical examination of somebody or something aimed at
forming a judgment or evaluation Microsoft Encarta
2009.
Construction Inspection/supervision: the process of ensuring
targets(cost, time and quality) which has been set at the planning stage.
Inspection is one of the means of ensuring compliance of design and
specifications.
The primary objective of inspection is to ensure safety of lives and
durability of structure.
Therefore, the inspector has the responsibility of ensuring that the
structure being built confirms to the acceptable standards and good
workmanship and quality materials.
The inspector has professional as well as ethical responsibility to ensure
that the structure is built correctly. 3
.Continued
Most of the buildings and other infrastructure fails due to
lack of proper and professional supervision causing loss of
lives and property.
Proper inspection becomes a critical aspect of a work in
order to ensure that the works to be accomplished are done
as intended, confirming to the technical documents
requirement.
The relationship between the inspector and the contractor
should be partnership rather than advisory and regulatory.
4
Continued
It is common that inspectors takes side and may think that
anything he/she can do to slow down, impede or control the
work is to the advantage of the employer.
The inspector is responsible to control quality of work but if
he/she impede the progress, the employer will incur
additional costs.
5
Importance of Supervision
Supervision is important to ensure that the structures or works
being executed are constructed according to Design, Specification,
code requirements as well as accepted practice.
Therefore, supervision can be defined as the process of ensuring
compliance with technical requirements, government regulations
and accepted levels of workmanship
If the work is executed with faulty supervision, it may result in
change in the intention of the designer
Unsafe and/ or unacceptable structure
Additional costs to the employer
Un necessary delay
Poor quality of work, etc
6
The Project Environment
The influence of various elements in the executing
inspectors duties or the environment in which the
inspector exercise his/her duties is called Project
environment.
Factor affecting the project environment:
Contractor attitude,
Inspector attitude,
Contractor abilities,
Trade atmosphere,
Field team ability,
Completeness of drawings,
Field conditions, etc
7
The Skills of Inspection
The inspector is excepted to have the following skills:
Observation skills
o Global observation skills
o Abstract observational skills
Technical skills or competence: Familiar with current
technology and method of executing construction works
Interpersonal skills: the way information is transmitted can
affect the way it is understood.
Communication skills: Exchange of information
The sender is responsible for making the information clear,
unambiguous, and complete so that the receiver can receive
it correctly
o Written and oral, Listening and speaking
o Internal and external
o Formal and Informal
8
o Vertical and Horizontal
Skill of inspection
Communicating involves substantial body of
knowledge that is not unique to the project context, for
example
Choice of media
Writing style (Active vs Passive)
Presentation technique
Meeting management technique:
Negotiating:
Negotiation might be about the following things
Scope, cost or schedule objective
Contract terms and conditions
Resource assignments, etc
Problem solving skills
o Problem definition and decision making.
o Decision making, the right decision at the right time
Analytical skills : Analyzing the situation and
weighing alternatives to arrive at a good decision.
o Looking at the big picture while at the same time separately
understanding critical elements.
The role of Inspector
An inspector may work for the Employer, the
Contractor or the Consultant, in any case however,
his responsibilities are the same.
Most of the time the inspector works on the side of
the consultant.
The main role of supervisor in general is to follow up
the execution of a project with the design,
specification and appropriate legal and social practice.
The inspector must have a keen eye, be observant and
able to see critically. 10
The role of Inspector
In most cases the inspector assumes role of
advisory, however his/her main duties are limited
to the following
o Inspect
o Guide
o Assist
o Facilitate
o Control quality but not to hinder work.
The controlling aspect of the inspection
should only came in the event that the
contractor fails to execute the works
according to standards and accepted practice. 11
.Continued
The detailed knowledge of the plans and
specifications for the particular work is very
important for execution of his duties.
He/ she should be familiar with any revisions or
amendments done to the original documents and also
the reason for such changes and their incorporation to
the works.
He/she must also be able to follow the progress of the
work, record accurately and follow up the day-to-day
progress.
He/ she must record and advice rectifications of
errors observed during inspection of works.
12
.Continued
The inspector needs to exercise professional integrity
and high ethical standards.
The inspector shall not stop the work unless
otherwise it will leads to death.
He/ she must always understand the problem of the
contactor and find a solution to assist him in
resolving the issues without waiving any of the
specific requirements of the specification.
In summary the inspector must have the following,
o Knowledge
o Integrity
o Ability
o Good judgment
o Good attitude
o practice
13
..Continued
His/her specific duties are summarized below:
Ensuring compliance by the contractor with drawings,
specifications and contractual provision of the project.
Monitoring project progress according to the schedule
Coordinating and monitoring different tests
Inspecting contract drawings and specifications
Rejection of works which is not within the contractual quality
Stopping of works when safety concern override basic contractual
commitment.
Approval or rejection of shop drawings, materials and samples
In other hand the inspector has no authority to
revoke, alter, enlarge, relax, or release any of the
requirements of the contract provisions. 14
Necessary Equipments
Make sure that you have the following
equipments at hand whenever inspecting a site
Tape mater
Level
Straight edge
Note book, diary
Safety helmet
Suitable site shoes
Appropriate clothing
15
Defects in Construction
Defects in construction may appear due to either of the
following reasons
Inadequate strength or stiffness
Structural instability
Settling of foundations
Distressed structural members as evidenced by cracking, movement and
excessive deflection
Weather and moisture intrusion caused by failure of roofing, exterior
wall, floors and openings
Premature depreciation such as abnormal wear, decay, corrosion
Poor Workmanship
Un-adequate Supervision
Usage of poor quality material
Some of this defects will result in buildings or parts of
buildings that are unsuitable or unusable. Others will result
in excessive operating and maintenance costs, premature
replacement costs, or depreciated or unacceptable
appearance and sometimes property damage, personal 16
Continued
Defects in structure can occur during the construction
period or during times of use.
The inspector is required to analyze the situation and
arrive at a technically sound explanation as well as
possible practical recommendations.
The inspector is therefore expected to answer the
following key questions for analyzing the defect and
forward the possible recommendations
What is the phenomenon?
How can it be described and explained?
What is the exact cause?
How it can be rectified?
o By removal or replacement?
o By repair? 17
Continued
o By coating?
o By strengthening?
o By premature replacement?
o By acceptance of defects and monetary adjustments?
o By some equivalent to the originally specified product or
procedure?
o By some creative or innovative procedure?
The inspector should also understand the costs of
remedial measures.
o Costs of analysis and recommendation.
o Costs of Redesign works
o Costs of inspection and testing
o Costs of labor, material, equipment coordination
o Costs of consequential damages
o Costs due to loss of use of building
o Costs due to damage of personal injuries.
18
Identifying the source of responsibilities
Who is responsible for the failure
Design problem?
o Was the construction project properly design?
The architect and the engineers are primarily responsible for the design problems. Who is
responsible for Temporarily structures?
Construction problem?
o Was the project built in accordance with contract requirement? Was it properly
constructed? Does the contractor provide right materials as per the specifications.
Who is responsible?
Maintenance or usage problem?
o Was the project and all its systems been properly cared for? Has the project been
abused or damaged by its user? has the project been used improperly?
Who is responsible?
Unforeseen circumstance [natural disaster, war, etc]
Who is responsible?
Faulty supervision
Who is reponsible?
Accidents are very common in construction sites, hence, it is very
important that healthy and safety issues are addressed properly.
19
Continued
Commonly accidents occur due to the following
reasons
oIn-adequately installment of formworks
oImproper construction of temporary structures
oImproper nails
oUn-braced underground excavations
oImproper usage of equipments
oNegligence of the workers
oUn usage of safety equipments
20
